The number of orphanages in The Gambia is going up fast, and projects, associations, organizations, institutions, societies and schools are popping up alongside. This article takes a look at why 'collectivism' is the right approach to the problems of orphans, or tries to.

Like much on orphans, there's more spout than clout here, so lines like, "Collective Responsibility: refers to a duty that a certain group of people consciously share among themselves for a specific and usually positive objective," lead to more detailing of problems than any real solutions.

If the issue of Gambian orphans is our collective responsibility, therefore the objective of improving the lives of those children whose parents are dead, should be every one's business in our country. To what extent does this prevails in the country? This crucial question is what we all need to ask ourselves. No body is willing to become an orphan. This means that the state of being an orphan is completely involuntary and a consideration of the forces that makes children be orphaned will help us to be conscious of the need to come together and give support to such a vulnerable group.

Huh?

Pointing to logical outcomes for orphans both rural and urban ... neglect, abuse, life on the streets, etc. ... the piece quotes the Quran, "God commands people to feed orphans as they are the most sorrowful people on earth," and the Hague, and ends by admonishing people not to neglect the problems of orphans because, " ... anyone can become a victim due to natural or artificial forces at any time."

How unhelpful.

In Uganda, the Lango Paramount Chief is blaming parents for the "high rate of defilement" of girls, pointing to parents' failure to send the girls to school, insisting that as peace returns to the northern part of the country, girls should return to school.

Once again ... huh? Yeah ... I guess ... that'll do it?

A report from South Africa suggests that the country is headed for disaster unless the problem of child-headed households is addressed.

Research conducted through the American Educational Studies Association in South Africa shows that in 2005 a large portion of the country's orphans lived in homes where there were no adults, many with a child between the ages of 11 and 14 running the show and looking after younger siblings.

"My brother locks us in the house to go and get money for food and transport to school. He works hard and does everything to support us. He is our hero."

When Mabalane [the researcher] spoke to this child's brother, he said he does "whatever" to get money, including stealing cars.

And finally, going into Africa rather than coming out of Africa, this family who is moving to Nigeria to work with AIDS orphans.

Good luck to them.

A couple of extras today, just for the heck of it and because there should be some fun on the 4th of July.

This fake front page from the Onion had me rolling, and I so totally love this story of international travel ... after a fashion ... that I had to write about it on my personal blog. It makes me smile.

Happy 4th!